Shortly after Donald Trump assumed the presidency, U.S. authorities arrested over 530 undocumented migrants and deported hundreds of them.
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt announced on the social media platform X that “538 illegal immigrants” were arrested, with “hundreds” deported using military aircraft. “The largest mass deportation in history is underway,” Leavitt declared.
However, the numbers may not surpass recent averages. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported more than 170,000 arrests in 2023, averaging 467 per day.
Trump’s goal, outlined during his campaign, is to significantly reduce the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. On his first day in office, Trump announced plans to deport “millions and millions” of illegal immigrants, declared a state of emergency at the Mexico border, and ordered the deployment of additional troops to the area.
Meanwhile, Congress, led by Republicans, passed legislation to expand detention for suspected undocumented individuals without valid residency documents.
Mexico Prepares for Mass Deportations
In anticipation of mass deportations, Mexico has begun setting up 12 reception camps for deported migrants: nine for Mexican nationals and three for individuals from other nationalities. This initiative, named “Mexico Embraces You,” aims to manage the influx of returnees.
Challenges to Birthright Citizenship
Trump’s administration faced its first legal setback regarding plans to remove birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants born in the U.S. A federal judge in Washington state blocked the executive order, deeming it “blatantly unconstitutional.”
The judge referenced the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to individuals born on U.S. soil. Legal experts agree that overturning birthright citizenship requires a constitutional amendment—a process that demands a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the 50 states.
Twenty-two states, including California and New York, have filed lawsuits against the order, alongside major cities and civil rights organizations.
